vintage jeans: 5 ways to wear ’em

Today is a good day. FashionABLE is launching their responsibly made denim line!

Remember a few weeks ago when I went to Nashville, stopped by FashionABLE’s flagship store, and shared about their new denim line on Instagram?

While I was there, I got to try on every single pair, and I’m happy to report that they are even better than I’d hoped! Beautiful washes, fashion forward silhouettes, and excellent quality. I thought they were even better than my trusty Madewell jeans — hooray!

Denim is such a staple in my wardrobe and it’s been challenging to find denim that’s both responsibly made and cute — but they nailed it and today you can get some yourself!

Okay, quick note: This is starting to get rave-y, so I feel the need to let you know this is not a sponsored post — I just love what they are doing. Cool? Cool. :)

After trying on all their denim, it was time to narrow down to a favorite. Oof, that was hard. As much as I loved their skinny jeans (both the light wash and darker wash), I’m all set in the skinny jeans department. So I took a bit of a risk and went with The Vintage jean!

They are a little bit of a leap for me — the leg is definitely wider than I’m used to. I wasn’t sure what kinds of tops or shoes would work with them, but I had a blast figuring it out. Turns out, they aren’t so risky after all.

Today I’ll share 5 easy ways to style these wide-but-not-too-wide leg jeans. But before I jump in, I want to share my initial thoughts on ’em — the fit, the fabric, and all that good stuff:

FABRIC: The fabric is wonderfully soft. It doesn’t have much stretch, but it already feels broken in and loved. The BEST.

SIZING: I took my regular size and it fit well — no pinching at the waist at all. They have a mid rise, so while I could wear them a little lower (like a boyfriend jean) I want to wear them more like a high rise jean. The waist gaps a little when I wear them higher like that, so I’m thinking about getting the waist taken in a bit. Even still, it’s minor (as in, you can’t even tell in the photos) so we’ll see.

LAUNDRY: I’ve already washed them once and they do great in the wash + dryer. I rarely dry my denim, but I wanted to put these through the wringer and see what happened — they came out like champs. Not much shrinkage at all.

CUT: My favorite thing about them? I love that they have a wide leg, but it’s not exaggerated. That loose leg feels like heaven.

Now let’s get into the styling!

LOOK 1

STYLE JEANS WITH: a graphic tee and bare feet

WEAR IT: around the house

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NOTES: I’ve been in a rut with my jeans and tee uniform lately. I wear it so often that it can just start to feel…boring. Enter a new denim silhouette! These jeans perk everything up and make the whole outfit look like something intentional and styled — instead of something that happened by default. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. :)

I also tied my bandana a little differently than I normally do — less like a scarf and more like a true bandana. I like it!

NOTES: I just can’t stop knotting things. Button downs, regular tees, anything. Is it in? Is it out? I keep gravitating towards it, so who cares? :)

Also, lace up sandals! Turns out, they are my favorite shoe to pair with wide-ish leg crops, like these jeans. Or at least, my favorite summer shoe. But more on that in a minute when we get down to Look 5.

To me, there’s no need to accessorize because everything is a statement. The color + cut of the shirt, the cut of the jeans, the clogs themselves. Everything is just a little bit outside of the mainstream norm.

NOTES: I am thrilled that summer is nowhere near over yet. It’s my favorite season and I’m not rushing it off for a second. Plus I’ve got to keep my head in the game. The heat will last til October — got to stay mentally prepared for that. ;)

But even still, I wanted to play with a fall look today — mostly because I was a little iffy on how these jeans would work with ankle booties and I reeeeally wanted to figure out how to take these jeans into fall. But all my doubts went away real quick — ankle booties look 100% with ’em.

So favorite shoe pairing with wide-ish leg denim? I’d say it’s a tie between lace up sandals and ankle booties.

• • •

And there you have it!

Do you have a similar pair of wide leg jeans? What’s your favorite way to style them? And I’m curious, which pair of FashionABLE’s new denim is your favorite? Finally, got any fit questions about my jeans? Ask away in the comments!

Hi Carol! I have a similar body type (wide hips, small waist) and every other pair I tried didn’t have gaping at the waist. But like I mentioned, it’s also a quick fix at the tailor to get that gap taken in and have a custom perfect pair of jeans! :)

Hey Gri, great question — thanks for asking! Sponsorship and gifted items are a little different. Here’s the quickest way to break it down: Sponsored posts are an exchange between a company and a blogger — a blogger receives monetary payment and agrees to post about a particular product. Gifted items are simply a gift — definitely a perk of being a blogger, but with with no monetary payment or agreement to post about the product. FashionABLE did give me these jeans (which is why you see them labeled as “gifted by” in the source links) but I didn’t receive monetary payment or agree to post about them. Instead, I decided to post about them on my own because I love their jeans and love what they stand for as a company. :)

Hi Caroline, love your blog and know you have a high level of ethics, no question, but that made me wince too. It is merely a difference of terminology and I say that as a former blogger who has also received comped items. You didn’t purchase the product on your own and it was a gift from the business (vs a personal gift from say a family member) so I personally wouldn’t make a statement about the post not being sponsored. As businesses gift items in hope of exposure either on social media or via a blog/vlog review, from the reader perspective it is a form of sponsorship even if that is not explicitly agreed upon. Perhaps you could say while you received the jeans as a gift you would not hesitate to purchase on your own or something like that. The jeans look fantastic on you! I think you’re taller than me however but I’m off to take a closer look, very cute. I liked the ankle boot styling the best but you did great on all looks.

Hi Caroline, thanks for answering. I understand there is a difference, but would disagree that gifting isn’t at all a form of sponsorship. Gifting jeans to bloggers is most likely part of the company’s advertising strategy, and the potential exposure on the blog, though not guaranteed, makes it worth doing for them. I am very appreciative that you’re careful to write on your blog when products are gifted and not bought – so thank you for the transparency, and again for writing a blog that gives me weekly inspiration :-)

This makes total sense to me, and TBH, you’ve been so consistent with sharing your work with transparency, I wouldn’t give it a second thought if they did pay you! They obviously were just giving you something you’d obviously enjoy! And you posted because you love it so much! If you hadn’t I wouldn’t have discovered this company, so Thank You! You’re unquestionably one of my most favorite bloggers of all time. Your motives are clear. I look forward to more of your sharing Girl. Love from LA.

Hi! You mentioned that you ordered your usual size, but do you mind sharing what that is? I’m normally a size 25 in skinnies, but I’m very short (5’0″) and will definitely have to cut these shorter. I know you’re much taller, but do you think that will change the look of them and where the flared part hits significantly?

Hey Anna! I’m usually a 24 in jeans and I’m 5’5. The jeans are actually a wider straight leg, instead of a flare. You may have to shorten them a just a bit, but the good news is it’s a raw edge hem, so no need to take it to a tailor to get hemmed. :)

The Perfect LBD…little blue denim! And you pretty much nailed all the colors that work so well with the dusty blues. Ivory Whites, Smokey Charcoal Blacks, Rich Rusty Carmels….and every outfit looks wonderful in your Perfect LBD…little black domicile! So many ways to style a great pair of jeans and always give us a load of confidence. Who doesn’t feel great in the right jeans? Thanks for sharing.-Laurel

Hi Caroline, thanks for the 5 outfit ideas. I have recently bought a similar jeans by Urban Outfitters (axyl bdg). I would pair them with shirts and blouses – either tucked in or over the top. For shoes I would take my flat ballerinas.
Greetings, Lena
PS: when will you publish the second part of the home tour? I would love to see it.

I have been wondering what pair of jeans you purchased :) I couldn’t wait until the launch and these are the ones I was immediately drawn (I love skinny jeans but an def wanting something else). Thanks for the style inspiration!

I loved this post! So fun and so helpful! I do have a similar pair from Madewell–their “perfect fall jean” from a couple years ago which I have cut off/cropped more recently. They truly are fun to style. I love all your looks here.

I love to collect national park tees as I visit new parks. Which national park is featured on your tee? I can’t make it out.

Awesome! I love seeing how those vintage jeans work so well in a variety of situations. Sometimes you see something you love but end up in a rut only pairing it a couple different ways when there are actually quite a few other possibilities you didn’t consider. Thanks for such great ideas, it helps to see that vintage jeans are so versatile. It gives me the motivation to take a few of my pieces and experiment.
Love it!

I have a nearly identical pair of retro jeans from Madewell, but I am confused by the “wear low & slouchy” instructions that came with them. What, exactly, does that mean? If I pull them down low, then the crotch sags way lower & looks weird…?

p.s. thank you for turning the horseshoe right side up, so now all your luck will stay in! xx

This came at the perfect time for me. Thank you, Caroline!
I got a similar pair second hand recently (mid-rise, similar wash, and similar fit somewhere between straight and a little flared). I cropped them myself, but I wasn’t too sure about them. With all your cool styling ideas, I’ll give them another try =)

I like the Boho look of these jeans and I love look 5 and but look 4 nope, I just feel the vintage jean is more of a casual look rather than an “out for dinner.
They do look super comfy and I love the waist. I think I need a pair for some adventures.

Sigh, I am a little disappointed there is no long leg option. I desperately need new dark wash skinny jeans, (and a black pair too really), as my cheapie (Old Navy) ones from last year did a weird creasing and fading thing on the legs. But I am 6 feet tall and definitely need a longer inseam. Oh well.

Hey Sara, that is a bummer!! I was going to recommend Mott + Bow, but it looks like those have a shorter inseam as well. :( What about a USA-made brand like Rag and Bone, Frame, or Citizens of Humanity?

You Inspire! Grateful.
Jeans.check. love love the way you wear them!
Tops. Check.— basic. Beautiful in all ways. Versatile. Feminine.
this post-revelation! —what I am lacking! Reason why I am challenged especially when we host or when we are invited to dinner, celebrations, casual gatherings. A definite need in my closet.( and time to say thank you & goodbye to several!)
Footwear. Perfect. Check. yours are beautiful. feminine.
revelation— assess time for mine.
Grateful. Grateful. Grateful for your teaching🌹Caroline. Truly.

Hey Sue, if you are between sizes, I would recommend taking the smaller size. They have a good bit of stretch to them — and don’t forget, they offer unlimited free exchanges so you can get your size right! :)

When I was in school many moons ago we called those flood pants. Why on earth are they deliberately making them? Not that I could buy a pair even if I wanted to as they only go to 32. Seems to be the trend with sustainable companies.

Hi Caroline,
I have connected with you before about the “prefect pair” of booties and realized the Bryr clogs might be my answer. However, since they are an investment, I am wondering if you feel like these clogs are shoes you can walk in a lot? Also, have you tried socks with them during cooler days? I have emailed the company similar questions but trust your advice too and wondered how you like them. Thank you again for your blog posts and putting yourself out there!
Katie

Hey Katie, I have worn my clogs with socks and I love the look! :) I have to say though, they probably aren’t my go-to shoe for a long day of walking. Not that they are uncomfortable, I just have shoes that are more comfortable for walking all day. What kind of walking are you doing? (i.e. walking out and about on the street or mostly around an office building?)

Hi! Great question! Right now I work part-time from home so I can wear whatever shoes feel right for that day. :) I walk a lot with my almost four year old daughter but I usually wear sneakers or rain boots or flip flops depending on the season and weather. When I am solo I take the bus a lot so I like comfortable shoes but with a heel because I am ~5’3″ and I just feel better with more height. I may be going back to a more traditional work environment so I might be walking a lot inside and for commuting via bus and ferry. I am trying to find that “perfect” bootie or clog, 2-21/2″ that will be good for spring and fall and winter and go with a lot! A lot to ask, I know. Any suggestions or insights would be wonderful. Thank you!

^ What Jess said :) It’s very helpful to see how versatile (and stylish!) an item can be. Right now I’ve got my eyes on the skinnies in the Carla wash since I’d love to have a really dark pair, but I’m nervous about dye transfer onto light fabrics. Any suggestions?

Hey Taryn, I always get nervous about the dye transfer too. I think the best thing is to just wash a few times before wearing. I’ve also heard that soaking in vinegar before a wash helps set the dye, but I haven’t tried it yet. Good luck! :)

Hi Caroline, love your blog!
I know you’ve commented about the material being soft and non-stretch but I’ve also noticed that it is 25% Lyocell and I wonder how it makes the fabric feel different to, say, your 100% cotton GRLFND jeans. Is it any silkier or thinner? I’ve tried the Petitie GRLFRND Helena (I’m 5’1″) and find them a bit too thick! Thank you~

Hi Caroline, upon your encouraging feedback, I went ahead and ordered these jeans (through your link) and love them! I’m 5’1″ and decided to wear them with a rolled cuff for a slightly more polished look for the office instead of cutting them. I’ve noticed you styled them all with the top tucked in and think that’s the real secret to cinching all the outfits together. The waist is ever so slightly loose on my so I may get them tailored at some point but love them just as they are anyway. Thanks again!

I totally feel you on the jeans and tee look feeling a little tired. That happened for a bit to me until I got some amazing wide leg linen pants that changed the game! :) Sometimes you just need something a little different to shake things up.

I love the lace up sandals! I think they really complement the silhouette of the jeans. It’s crazy, but I think those and the booties really change the shape of them. They look like totally different jeans. Love all the options!

Ok, so Im loving the jeans, but the thing I can’t stop thinking about on their site? The Jacket! Did you happen to try it on? Thoughts? I have been saving for the oversized one from Madewell, but I think I like this one (and their company heart!) more. Gah, decisions!

I LOVE these jeans! They seem like they would flatter so many body shapes – I’m a pear shape and have been hunting for a pair of jeans like these. They are perfect for the summer to fall to winter transition in Texas! How many pairs of jeans do you have in your collection? Looking at your blog posts, it looks like a ton, but I think it’s just because you style so creatively :) Thanks, Caroline!

Glad to hear it! Totally miss your posts…yours and one or two other blogs are my morning/with coffee routine at work. I love the dose of positivity and beauty in the morning. Though I imagine a break must be nice!! Glad to hear you weren’t affected by the terrible flooding…I can’t imagine

Okay, what is everyone else planning for Fall? It’s still warm here in Chicago, so I haven’t been inspired to figure out what I need. I know my color palette will be the colors that make me feel confident: black, white/ivory, grey, burgundy, taupe and indigo.

I love the not-so-wide leg cut but it’s not a fit to my vertically challenged frame. Their slightly distressed skinny looks so tempting. Also, I am stoked about Everlane’s new denim line coming this week. yeee!!!

Hi Caroline!
Enjoy the break! Burnout (even if it’s something you love) is so real, and it’s great you’re taking time to recharge yourself.
You mentioned in an IG story awhile back that you’d be starting yoga teacher training. I LOVED my teacher training (mine was ten years ago now, and was just a wonderful experience), so I always get excited when others start. If it doesn’t feel weird or too personal to post about it, I’d love to hear about your experiences! :)

I have! I love them Carol! I bought them last fall, winter and spring…it got me to a place that I’m confident piecing stuff together myself now! I really recommend them though…I mostly buy used and it was easy to find the pieces used. She also does different styles…french, stay-at home, trendy/contemporary. It really, really helped me get it together.

Hello! Love your blog and I’m in need of some help. I’m in search of a pair of black skinny jeans, but I have found that the mass majority are made up more of rayon or modal than cotton (Paige, Adriano, rag). It seems that the fashionable skinnies with a 92% cotton will have much more longevity, but I’m wondering about the difference in fit. Did you notice a difference in the thigh or booty when trying on the skinnies compared to most other brands? I have a compact frame with bum and thighs, but generally a 25 waist. I have the alem bag from fashionable and love their customer service, but would rather not go through sifting through endless amount she of denim.

Hi Caroline – I tried these jeans based on your recommendation of FashionABLE ethics and the way you styled them and wanted to say Thank You! I’m a hard fit with waist smaller than hips and these worked. I’m lazy about commenting but , since I’m here, i wanted to say thanks for your integrity. When you post, I know that the style will be great and the info honest. Best wishes. I’m glad to hear you are not in evacuation zone!

Just noticed that you haven’t posted for a while – which is obviously totally ok, but a bit unlike you. So I’m sending you some love in case life has taken a difficult turn recently. We’ll be here when(/if) you find it’s the right time to come back, and there’s no rush :)

I’m so glad you posted this! I’ve been on the fence about these jeans and I think you’ve convinced me to give them a try. It’s so helpful to see all of the ways that you styled them! I know you wrote this awhile ago, so you may not see this, but my only question is how soft the knee area is. I have three kiddos and my jeans have to be able to allow me to get down (and then up and then down and then up, etc) with them.

Scrolling through to check and see if you are okay and glad to see that you are. Hoping you’re taking a much deserved break and are taking care of yourself and enjoying family time. Can’t wait to see more posts soon!

Just wanted to comment and say your blog has been a renewed source of wardrobe inspiration for me. I used to shop all the time – not so much any more but I still have a lot of clothing that I don’t wear hanging around my closet – even after what I thought were really “good” closet clean outs. I am 7 months post-partum and I am at the point where my old clothing is finally starting to fit (and some things not because #mombod). I am not sure if its wanting to simplify because I’ve got even less time now to think about my outfits or the changing seasons…but I think I am finally ready to have a mindful closet. Thank you.

Hi Caroline, I have a more general question on jeans for fall.. I got a cute embroidered pair and I’m petite.. I want to avoid a raw edge look for them, is cuffing/rolling still a thing or should I hem them? (I only hem my jeans the incognito way, leaving the original hem at the bottom)

Wow, the same jeans can look so different styled with different color clothes. I personally love the following looks:
black cardigan over V-neck grey tee tucked in jeans and completed with camel booties;
white shirt and strappy sandals;
white tee, blue jeans, slides and necktie scarf.
best,
Irina || http://imogentrend.com/

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